Presidential Candidate Number P60005535 v. Gates et al

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25-cv-3641-AGS-AHG
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
Ronald Satish SMITH,
Plaintiff,
v.
Bill GATES, et al.,
Defendants.
Case No.: 25-cv-3641-AGS-AHG
ORDER GRANTING IFP MOTION
(ECF 2) AND DISMISSING
COMPLAINT
Plaintiff Ronald Smith moves to proceed without paying the usual $405 in court
fees. See Rodriguez v. Cook, 169 F.3d 1176, 1177 (9th Cir. 1999) (“An action may proceed
despite failure to pay the filing fees only if the party is granted IFP [in forma pauperis]
status.”); 28 U.S.C. § 1914(a) (“filing fee of $350”); Judicial Conference Schedule of Fees,
District Court Misc. Fee Schedule, § 14 (eff. Dec. 1, 2023) (“Administrative fee” of “$55”).
Smith has no assets, and his disability payments hardly exceed his expenses (see ECF 2),
so he need not pay the filing fees. See Blount v. Saul, No. 21-CV-0679-BLM, 2021 WL
1561453, at *1 (S.D. Cal. Apr. 21, 2021) (“[A] party need not be completely destitute to
proceed IFP.”).
Next, the Court must screen the complaint and dismiss it if it is “frivolous” or “fails
to state a claim.” 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B). Smith seeks “500 billion dollars” from—and
“an injunction and/or declaratory judgment” against—the defendant corporations and
corporate leaders, “The Mythical Bavarian Illuminati as Urban Legend,” Pope Leo XIV,
and others. But he does not have Article III standing to sue. To have standing, a plaintiff
“must have suffered” a “concrete and particularized” “injury in fact.” Lujan v. Defenders
of Wildlife, 504 U.S. 555, 560 (1992). Smith alleges that defendants “have committed
industrial espionage” and both “read the minds of” and “spy on” consumers. (ECF 1, at
8–9.) But he does not allege that he owns or has consumed any of defendants’ products or
that he has otherwise been the alleged misbehavior’s subject. So, he lacks standing.
Smith’s IFP request is GRANTED, and his complaint is DISMISSED without
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25-cv-3641-AGS-AHG
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prejudice and with leave to amend. Any amended complaint is due February 27, 2026.
Dated: January 27, 2026
___________________________
Hon. Andrew G. Schopler
United States District Judge
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